Kamalani Dung completed the match only allowing 6 hits and 2 runs against the Maryknoll Spartans. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Maryknoll teammates celebrates after Bri Ryan's homerun in a match against Kamehameha. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Kamehameha teammates celebrate together some time during their match against Maryknoll. The Warriors defeated the Spartans 3-2. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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KAPALAMA HEIGHTS – The Kamehameha Warriors overcame a pair of solo Maryknoll homers to stun the visiting Spartans in the bottom of the seventh inning, 3-2, at Kamehameha-Kapalama’s Intermediate Field Wednesday afternoon. 

The Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I regular season opener for both teams featured a defensive battle that saw no score until the bottom of the fifth inning. Maryknoll led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh; however, the home team manufactured the necessary runs needed to start their season with a win.

“It was a battle,” exclaimed Kamehameha coach Aloha Yamaguchi after the game. “Both teams competed all the way to the end, both teams coming out to play hard. That’s what everyone saw today, two great teams battling it out.” 

Kamehameha got the tying runner on base after Maryknoll walked Ateisha Norton to start the seventh inning.  Pinch hitter Brooke “Mahina” Sauer then drove Norton home on a fly ball that landed all the way in deep left field. The outfielder was unable to make the catch, allowing Sauer to advance to second base.

“We were able to put some pinch hitters in that came up huge for us in the last inning,” said Yamaguchi. “They got a chance to execute and they came up big.”

After a Lia Tom groundout to advance Sauer to third base, Jordan Sanchez came in as a courtesy runner, setting up the game-winning run. Maryknoll then intentionally walked the next two batters, bringing Rachel Ogasawara to the plate.  Ogasawara promptly knocked one in towards second base for the walk-off hit and win.

“When they started intentionally walking, I expected that they would try to go for me because I strucked out a couple of times and I hit right at (their) girls,” said Ogasawara, explaining her thoughts at the plate.

“My mentality (at the plate) was just (to) swing at my kind of pitch and just hit something small because I knew if I tried for something big I would end up striking out or fouling off.”

The Warriors’ late game heroics overshadowed a strong performance out of Maryknoll pitcher Shearyna Labasan, who struck out seven batters prior to the seventh inning.

“We rely heavily on her,” Maryknoll coach John Uekewa said on Labasan. “She came though (for us), its just Kamehameha is a tough team. They deserved the win.” 

Kamehameha’s defense also played a big part in their victory. Despite giving up six hits, the Warriors held the Spartans to just two scores. That defense was on its best display during the fourth inning, having collected two straight outs while the bases were loaded.

“Our defense played awesome today,” said Yamaguchi. “Our defense really came through on crucial plays, diving out there – as well as making some routine outs when we needed them.”

The Warriors’ outfield trio of Norton, Rachel Dumlao and Katelyn Mahelona were especially impressive, making breathtaking grabs to limit the Spartans’ offensive output.

“They did a great job reading the balls off the bat,” said Yamaguchi. “Our outfield made some great outs when we needed them, whether they (was) diving or finishing off the inning with the third out.”

The first score of the game came after Labasan walked Sanchez to start the bottom of the inning. Tom’s subsequent groundout advance Sanchez to second, who was later brought home on a Mahelona single.

Maryknoll got homers from Bri Ryan in the sixth and Mylee Enos in the seventh to take the lead, but it just wasn’t enough as the Warriors’ late rally lifted them to victory.

“It feels great to win the first game of the season, (especially) on our home field,” said Ogasawara. 

Kamehameha’s next game will be against Sacred Hearts, while Maryknoll will take on Pac-Five. Both games will be played on Friday, Mar. 7, at 4:00 p.m.